Increasing protein in your diet before surgery : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This information explains what protein is and how it can help with your recovery from surgery. We hope you will find this information useful but if you have any questions about your diet, please speak to the team looking after you.

Protein helps to build and repair muscles and other body tissues, and to keep your body healthy. When we are unwell, injured or under stress (for example after chemotherapy or surgery) we need extra protein to repair any damage. If your body doesn’t get enough protein, it may start to use your muscle stores. As the time goes by, these will become depleted causing you to feel weaker.

When you exercise you are breaking down your muscles with the hope of them rebuilding and becoming stronger over time. Protein is essential in this rebuilding process. Current evidence suggests that having a protein-based snack or meal after exercising aids this rebuilding, recovery and repair further. We also know that more muscle stores before an operation means less risk of complications after the operation and quicker recovery.

Whether you want to gain or lose weight, or stay stable before surgery, it’s important to remember that muscle weighs more than fat. Even if the scales do not show what you want them to, you are still likely becoming stronger and fitter as long as you keep physically active and increase your protein intake.

Meat and fish – palm size or a deck of playing cards
Beans, legumes and grains – a closed fist
Nut butters – 1-2 tablespoons
Cheese – matchbox
Eggs – 2 eggs
Nuts and seeds – handful
Yogurt – 1 small pot or 4 tbsp

The amounts below are based on current evidence and guidance. A dietitian may give you targets or goals for protein specific to you. If you would like to see a dietitian, please speak to your healthcare team.

Weight (kg)	Weight (stone)	Optimal daily protein intake range: 1.2g – 1.5g per kg
30 – 35	4st 10 lbs – 5st 7lbs	40 – 55
35 – 40	5st 7lbs – 6st 4lbs	45 – 60
40 – 45	6st 4lbs – 7 st 1lbs	55 – 70
45 – 50	7st 1lbs – 7st 12lbs	60 – 75
50 – 55	7st 12lbs – 8st 9lbs	65 – 85
55 – 60	8st 9lbs – 9st 6lbs	70 – 90
60 – 65	9st 6lbs – 10st 3lbs	80 – 100
65 – 70	10st 3lbs – 11st	85 – 105
70 – 75	11st – 11st 11lbs	90 – 115
75 – 80	11st-11lbs – 12st 8lbs	95 – 120
80 – 85	12st 8lbs – 13st 8lbs	100 – 130
85 – 90	13st 8lbs – 14st 2lbs	110 – 135
90 – 95	14st 2lbs – 14st 13lbs	115 – 145
95 – 100	14st 13lbs – 15st 10lbs	120 – 150

There are several ‘high-protein’ products that you can find in supermarkets. Swapping them for some of your regular products could help you achieve your daily protein intake.

High-protein porridge vs regular porridge (22g per 100g vs 11g per 100g)
High-protein bagel vs regular bread (14g per 100g vs 8g per 100g)
High-protein yoghurt vs regular yoghurt (10g per 100g vs 4g per 100g)
High-protein wraps vs regular wraps (28g per 100g vs 8g per 100g)
Protein popped chips vs regular popped chips (24g per 100g vs 7g per 100g)
High-protein chocolate bars vs regular chocolate bars (36g per 100g vs 7g per 100g)

If you are vegetarian or vegan, it is important that you include a variety of protein sources in your diet. This is because some plant-based protein sources may not contain all the amino acids, also called building blocks of protein, which your body needs to function.

If you eat a variety of plant-based protein sources, you are more likely to get all the amino acids you need.

We have listed various sources of protein in the table below. We have also included the amount of protein they contain per 100g/100ml.

Food type		Amount of protein per 100g/100ml
Meat	Chicken breast	32
	Pork chop	31
	Beef steak	31.6
	Lamb chop	29.2
Fish	Tinned tuna	24.9
	Salmon	24.6
	Cod	23.9
	Mackerel	20.3
Seafood	Crab	18.1
	Mussels	17.7
	Prawns	15.4
Eggs	Chicken egg	14.1
Dairy	Milk	3.5
	Hard cheese	25.4
	Soft cheese	9.4
	Greek-style yogurt	5.7
	Plain low-fat yogurt	4.8
	Mozzarella	17
	Halloumi	22
Non-dairy alternatives	Soya yogurt	3.7
	Soya puddings	3.1
	Soya milk	3.3
Beans	Baked beans	4.5
	Cannellini beans	7.1
	Butter beans	6.9
	Kidney beans	7.7
Pulses	Lentils	6.2
Pulses	Chickpeas	6.7
Grains	Ready-prepared grains	6.1
Nuts	Cashew nuts	20
	Almonds	21
	Walnuts	14.7
	Peanuts	30
	Peanut butter	30
Non-meat alternatives	Tofu	12.6
	Quorn® mince	13
	Quorn® pieces	14
	Paneer	16.7

An easy way of getting extra protein is to fortify your milk. All you need is your regular milk and a pot of skimmed milk powder. This recipe boosts the protein content of a pint of milk from 18g to 40g!